£. 
497 


BANCROFT 
LIBRARY 

•0- 

THE  LIBRARY 

OF 

THE  UNIVERSITY 
OF  CALIFORNIA 


WAR    PAPER 

No.    12. 


Commandery 

OF  THE  STATE 


OF 


o 


MILITARY  ORDER 


Loyal   Legion 


OF   THE 


UNITED    STATES. 


TH 


Loyal  Californians 


•«•  1  5  6 


A  Paper  Prepared  and  Read  Before 

CALIFORNIA  COMMANDERY 

OF    THE 

MILITARY  ORDER 

OF    THE 

Loyal  Legion  of  the  United  States, 


JANUARY    31,    1893. 


BY  COMPANION 

HUGH   A.  GORLEY, 

Captain  ist  California  Volunteer  Infantry. 


EH- 
q-fe 


ro  -3-3  i 

f?  A  [/CROFT 


THE 


Loyal  Californians  of  1861. 


-i)  COMMANDER  AND  COMPANIONS  : — 

#a< 

vy  Papers  have  been  read  before  this  Commanderj  cover- 

^»  ing,  in  a  general  way,  the  political  and  military  attitude  of 

:-,  California  during  the  great  .Rebellion,  including  the  promi- 

5Vi  nent  actors  of  that  time;  but  no  pen  has  yet,  nor  ever  can, 

lrt%  portray  the  indignation,  the  chagrin,  the  patriotism,  and  the 

final  determination  of  the  loyal  rank  and  file  of  California's 
lgj  hardy  yeomanry  when  it  was  learned  beyond  a  doubt,  in  the 

p  early  Spring  of  1861,  that  Americans,  disloyal,  had  taken 

feX  the  first  step  to  disrupt  this  Government. 

Through  the  lens  of  time  we  behold  San  Francisco  and 
other  towns  throughout  the  State  emptying  their  population 
into  the  streets,  thousands  of  people  scanning  with  eager 
»  O  eye  the  bulletin-boards,  and  with  nervous  anxiety  reading 

the  following  dispatches  that  are  being  flashed  over  Eastern 
wires  and  conveyed  to  the  Pacific  Coast  by  Pony  Express— 
the  information  that  civil  war  had  actual]^  commenced;  that 
Confederate  troops  are  pouring  into  Charleston,  eager  for 
collision;  that  Fort  Sumter  would  be  attacked  without  wait- 
ing for  the  Abolition  fleet;  eagerness  for  the  conflict  is  un- 
bounded; seven  thousand  Confederate  troops  occupy  the 
defenses,  and  as  many  more  in  reserve;  General  Beauregard 
ordered  to  demand  the  evacuation  of  Fort  Sumter;  if  re- 
fused, to  reduce  the  Fort;  Major  Anderson  refuses;  Beaure- 
gard opens  fire,  and  Major  Anderson,  after  a  fervent  prayer 
to  the  "  God  of  Nations,"  returns  the  bombardment;  the 
engagement  becomes  terrific;  barracks  of  Fort  Sumter  on 
fire;  flames  become  general;  men  stifled  by  intense  heat  and 


V  n  0 


smoke;  hot  shot  and  shells  into  the  Fort;  magazines  ex- 
plode; flames  spread  to  the  gates;  the  Fort  fast  becoming  a 
rain;  the  Old  Flag  shot  down,  but  up  again;  Anderson  still 
refuses  to  surrender. 

LATER. — Major  Anderson  evacuates  Fort  Sumter  to  a 
force  of  7000  Eebels;  the  North  electrified;  intense  excite- 
ment; loyal  States  wheeling  into  line  to  avenge  the  insulted 
Government  and  Flag;  the  Government  to  be  sustained  at 
whatever  sacrifice;  President  Lincoln  calling  for  troops,  and 
the  Sixth  Massachusetts  Kegiment  (God  bless  it!)  is  leaving 
for  Washington,  being  the  first  to  respond  to  the  call;  loyal 
hearts  trusting  to  God  and  to  energetic  patriotism. 

These  dispatches  were  electrical.  Loyal  Galifornians 
threw  the  Stars  and  Stripes  to  the  breeze,  defiant  and  de- 
termined. Isolated,  as  we  were,  from  our  Atlantic  breth- 
ren, dependent,  in  a  great  measure,  upon  our  own  resources, 
we  considered  ourselves  in  an  alarming  and  precarious  sit- 
uation. 

It  was  well  known  in  military  circles  in  Washington  that 
a  deliberate  plan  was  formed  to  revolutionize  California  and 
join  her  fortunes  to  the  Confederacy.  We,  too,  felt  as  though 
we  were  upon  a  volcano  of  social  disruption,  and,  with  a 
Southern  man  in  command  of  the  Department  of  the  Pacific, 
did  not  know  what  the  next  minute  would  bring  forth — that 
the  guns  of  Alcatraz  might  signal  us  at  any  moment  to  throw 
up  our  hands. 

This  anxiety  and  uncertainty  lasted  until  the  25th  of 
April,  1861,  when,  like  an  angel  of  mercy,  unexpectedly  the 
following  order  spread  its  protecting  wings  over  the  entire 
Pacific  Coast: 

HEADQUARTERS  DEPARTMENT  OF  THE  PACIFIC,  | 
SAN  FRAK  Cisco,  April  25,  1861.  f 

[ORDERS  No.  5.] 

In  compliance  with  Special  Orders  No.  86,  dated  War  Department,  Adju- 
jant-General's  Office,  Washington,  March  23,  1861,  I  hereby  assume  command 
of  this  Department.  All  concerned  will  govern  themselves  accordingly. 

E.  V.  SUMNER, 

Official:  Brigadier-General  U.  S.  Army. 

[Signed]        R.  C.  DRUM, 

Assistant  Adjutant-General. 


This  decisive  and  comprehensive  epistle  was  a  bombshell 
in  the  camp  of  those  long-haired,  broad-brimmed,  crook- 
caned  "  Gentry,"  Knights  of  the  "  Golden  Circle,"  who,  up 
to  this  hour,  were  as  thick  as  leaves  in  Vallambrosa.  They 
suddenly  become  scarce — with  "  G.  T.  T."  (gone  to  Texas) 
marked  upon  their  doors.  The  embryo  Confederate  Generals 
and  officers  of  all  grades  found  in  this  terse  order  an  end  to 
all  their  golden  dreams. 

General  Sumner's  administration  was  commenced  by  the 
removal  of  all  doubtful  officers  from  important  commands, 
and  in  their  stead  placed  men  of  known  loyalty  and  fidelity. 
Loyal  hearts  beat  freer.  A  call  for  California  troops  was 
announced,  and  over  16,000  loyal  Calif ornians  sprang  to  the 
front.  In  imagination  we  can  see  the  Column  from  Califor- 
nia, under  its  able  and  efficient  leader,  General  Carleton, 
winding  its  way  over  the  dreary  sand  deserts  toward  the 
Bio  Grande,  and  yonder  beneath  the  shades  of  the  Kocky 
Mountains,  in  the  "City  of  the  Saints,"  the  heroic  Connor 
with  his  brave  command,  while  far  to  the  northward, 
stretching  from  the  Cascades  of  the  Columbia  to  the  north- 
western boundary  of  our  country,  guarding  with  jealous  eye 
the  interests  of  the  Republic,  is  the  unnumbered  infantry 
regiment  of  California  Volunteers  under  the  command  of 
Colonel  Justus  Steinberger — all  toiling  in  the  interest  of  the 
Union;  while  away  at  the  front,  with  uplifted  blades  flash- 
ing in  the  sunlight  as  they  descend  upon  their  foes,  we  see 
the  impetuous  "California  Hundred  and  Battalion." 

Well  do  we  remember  with  what  youthful  pride  we  re- 
ceived the  following  letter: 

STATE  OF  CALIFORNIA,  EXECUTIVE  DEPARTMENT,  } 
SACRAMENTO,  August  19,  1861.  f 

Captain  Gorley :  The  tender  of  your  company's  service  is  accepted  for 
Overland  Mail  Service.  You  will  at  once  present  yourself  and  company  at 
the  Headquarters  of  Brigadier-General  E.  V.  Sumner,  San  Francisco,  who 
will  muster  you  into  service. 

Respectfully,          JOHN  G.  DOWNEY,  Governor. 

The  yell  from  the  boys  that  greeted  the  reading  of  this 
letter  would  put  to  blush  the  old  Rebel  yell,  which,  no 
doubt,  still  lingers  in  the  ear  of  some  of  you  to-day.  There 


was  some  disappointment,  however,  as  our  expectations 
were  that  we  would  be  called  East.  In  obedience  to  this 
letter,  we  commenced  our  march  from  San  Jose  to  the 
Presidio  with  fifty-five  men,  with  many  a  "  God  bless  you  " 
along  the  route.  Upon  our  return  to  Santa  Clara  Valley  to 
gather  up  the  remainder  of  the  company,  we  received  the 
following  dispatch: 

SAN  FRANCISCO,  August  24,  1861. 

Captain  Gorley :  Captain  Smith  from  Calaveras  is  at  the  Presidio  with' 
twenty-seven  men.  Will  unite  with  you  and  your  fifty-five  men  now  at  the 
Presidio.  You  had  better  report  here  at  once  and  have  this  done. 

E.  V.  SUMNER, 
Brigadier-General  U.  S.  A.,  Commanding. 

Receiving  a  dispatch  from  such  high  authority  almost 
took  away  our  breath.  However,  we  returned  with  twenty 
more  men,  good  and  true,  and  were  then  mustered  into  the 
United  States  service,  without  joining  forces  with  Captain 
Smith.  We  were  then  assigned  to  the  1st  California  In- 
fantry, Colonel  Carleton  commanding.  Our  experience  in 
getting  into  the  service  of  our  country  is  but  the  experience 
of  others  under  like  circumstances. 

Besides  the  sixteen  thousand  troops  which  California 
gave  to  the  Union,  she  shipped  from  the  port  of  San  Fran- 
cisco in  treasure  and  bullion  (from  January  1,  1861,  to  Jan- 
uary 1,  1866,)  the  sum  of  $229,443,811.  During  the  same 
years  merchandise  to  the  amount  of  $62,156,647;  this  state- 
ment excludes  the  many  millions  through  private  hands. 

So,  gentlemen,  you  will  perceive  that  we  were  not  idle 
here  while  our  Eastern  brethren  were  fighting  there. 

Commander  and  Companions,  we  read  the  foregoing  as 
a  prelude  to  one  among  the  many  important  episodes  in  the 
history  of  the  service  of  the  California  Volunteers,  viz. : 
the  capture  of  a  party  of  desperate  and  determined  men, 
most  of  whom  were  commissioned  officers  in  the  Confed- 
erate service,  known  as  the  Showalter  Party. 

It  must  be  remembered  that  the  right  of  the  great  Army 
of  the  Republic  rested  on  the  Atlantic  seaboard,  while  its 
left  rested  upon  the  shores  of  the  Pacific.  The  position 


occupied  by  the  California  troops  threw  them  so  far  out  of 
the  line  of  fire  of  the  enemy  that  in  the  general  crash  of 
battle  on  the  right  and  centre  they  were  almost  entirely  lost 
sight  of  in  the  general  and  hasty  making  up  of  history. 

But  notwithstanding  the  halo  of  glory  which  so  de- 
servedly rests  upon  the  brows  of  our  Eastern  comrades,  the 
California  Volunteers  have  the  proud  consolation  of  saving 
this  Western  Empire  of  broad  and  prolific  acres  and  its 
mighty  mountains,  the  source  of  the  mineral  wealth  of  our 
great  American  Kepublic,  by  erecting  a  wall  of  steel  from 
the  Columbia  on  the  North  to  the  Eio  Grande  on  the  South. 

For  the  information  of  Companions  I  will  state  that  the 
leader  of  this  party,  although  a  Northern  man,  had  allied 
himself  to  the  Chivalry  wing  of  the  Democratic  party  in  the 
early  history  of  California.  He  became  a  leader  of  a  rough 
class  of  politicians,  was  elected  to  the  Legislature,  and 
killed  a  fellow  member  by  the  name  of  Piercy  in  a  duel  at 
Charley  Fairfax's  place  in  Marin  county. 

This  force  had  been  recruited  in  California  by  Showalter 
to  co-operate  with  Confederates  organized  in  Texas  for  the 
express  purpose  of  invading  Arizona  and  California,  and  to 
hold  them  as  a  part  of  the  Southern  Confederacy.  They 
were  bold  and  daring  men,  selected  expressly  for  bold  and 
daring  deeds.  They  were  wily  and  suspicious,  and  covered 
their  movements  so  completely  that  Government  detectives 
were  unable  to  see  anything  in  their  actions  to  warrant  an 
arrest. 

Colonel  Carleton,  however,  who  commanded  the  Southern 
District  of  California,  with  headquarters  at  Los  Angeles,  had 
an  eye  upon  them  from  the  time  they  entered  his  Department 
until  they  were  captured. 

I  was  stationed  at  Camp  Wright,  Oak  Grove,  near  War- 
ner's Eancho,  San  Diego  county,  on  the  old  overland  stage 
route,  which  crossed  the  desert  to  Fort  Yuma.  Our  com- 
mand was  composed  of  Companies  D,  G  and  F,  1st  Califor- 
nia Infantry,  and  a  detachment  of  California  Volunteer  Cav- 
alry under  Lieut.  Wellman,  the  whole  under  the  command 
of  Major  Ed.  A.  Eigg.  Letters  were  received  daily  from 


Colonel  Carleton  informing  our  commander  of  the  move- 
ments of  Showalter's  party.  Finally  our  command  was 
ordered  to  enter  the  field  and  capture  this  ' c  outfit  "  before 
it  crossed  the  Colorado  into  Arizona. 

Active  operations  began  with  us.  Every  road  approach- 
ing our  camp  was  strictly  guarded.  Scouts  were  sent  out  in 
every  direction, — over  mountains,  through  ravines,  deep 
canons,  and  across  desert  wastes;  signal  stations  were 
erected  on  lofty  mountain  peaks — so  that  nothing  was  left 
undone  that  could  be  done  in  order  to  secure  success  and 
fulfill  the  orders  from  headquarters.  No  one  as  yet  knew 
the  strength  of  this  party,  and  various  reports  were  brought 
in,  some  placing  the  number  as  high  as  one  hundred  men 
who  were  moving  in  the  direction  of  our  camp. 

Then,  again,  we  would  hear  that  this  force  had  broken 
into  detachments  and  were  moving  by  different  routes,  but 
all  aiming  for  our  position. 

As  a  matter  of  course  we  prepared  for  a  fight,  and  while 
I  write  I  can  look  through  the  lens  of  time  and  see  how 
eagerly  the  hearts  of  those  brave  young  soldiers  beat  for 
that  chance. 

At  midnight,  November  26,  1861,  if  my  memory  serves 
me  right,  Wellman's  bugles  sounded  "  Boots  and  Sad- 
dles," and  away  went  those  brave  fellows  into  the  dark  and 
dismal  mountain  fastness,  on  a  mission  which  no  one  knew 
but  the  commanding  officer  and  those  who  were  entrusted 
with  the  secret. 

On  the  evening  of  the  27th  I  received  a  "Paper  Cap" 
informing  me  of  my  official  duty  on  the  morrow,  i.  e.,  Com- 
mander of  Camp  Wright  until  further  notice.  At  the  same 
time  I  was  ordered  to  have  my  company  (D,  1st  Infantry, 
under  command  of  Lieut.  Vestal)  ready  to  march  at  daylight? 
with  two  days'  rations  in  their  haversacks  and  sixty  rounds 
of  ball  cartridges  to  the  man. 

On  the  28th  of  November,  according  to  orders,  Com- 
pany D  marched  out  of  camp,  accompanied  by  Major  Eigg, 
leaving  me  to  assume  command,  as  directed. 

The  following  letter  I  received  late  in  the  afternoon  of 


9 

the  28th,  showing  what  anxiety  the  Major  was  laboring  under 
for  the  success  of  the  expedition : 

IN  CAMP,  WARNER'S  RANCH,  ) 
November  28,  1861.  J" 

Captain :  If  Lieut.  Wellman  has  returned  send  him  on  here  at  once  with 
his  detachment  of  cavalry.  I  need  him  as  soon  as  possible,  and  before  day- 
light if  he  can  get  here.  If  he  has  not  arrived,  let  Lieut.  Taylor  get  a  mule 
from  Mr.  Poole  and  go  to  Temecula  and  send  him  on.  If  Wellman  has  taken 
the  trail  after  the  party  he  is  looking  for,  get  the  Alcalde  (Indian)  at  Temecula 
to  send  an  express  after  him.  The  party  we  want  are  on  the  road  from  Tem- 
ecula to  San  Jose  Valley,  and  will  be  in  to-night  if  they  are  not  alarmed.  They 
may  go  off  to  Ysabell,  but  I  think  not.  The  Alcalde  is  the  Indian  who  brought 
in  the  express  to-day.  I  think  he  has  but  one  eye.  Keep  this  to  yourself, 
except  to  explain  to  Lieut.  Taylor  what  I  want  him  to  do.  If  Lieut.  Wellman 
has  taken  the  right  trail  let  him  come  on  here  by  it,  but  send  an  express  from 
Temecula  to  him,  giving  him  the  information  that  the  party  were  at  Pomona 
to-day  at  10  o'clock  A.  M.  Pomona  is  on  that  trail. 
Respectfully, 

E.  A.  RIGG,  Major  Commanding. 
To  Captain  H.  A.  Gorley,  Camp  Wright. 

P.  S. — Keep  the  men  quiet,  but  wide  awake,  and  ready  to  move  at  a  mo- 
ment's notice.  E.  A.  R. 

The  instructions  in  the  above  letter  were  complied  with 
as  far  as  possible,  but  Lieut.  Wellman  was  by  this  time  far 
out  in  hot  pursuit  of  the  enemy,  and  therefore  Lieut.  Taylor 
failed  to  connect,  but  brought  back  the  information,  ob- 
tained through  the  old  Alcalde's  express,  that  Wellman  was 
on  the  right  track,  and  would  drive  Showalter  and  his  men 
into  San  Jose  Valley,  unless  he  captured  them  on  the  moun- 
tains. 

This  was  communicated  to  Major  Bigg  in  his  camp  at 
Warner's  Kanch  (some  twenty  miles  distant)  by  daylight  on 
tjie  29th.  Company  D  was  put  in  motion  to  cover  the  trail 
leading  into  San  Jose  Valley  from  the  mountains  without 
delay.  Wellman  encamped  near  the  western  summit  of  the 
mountain  (up  which  he  had  been  traveling)  on  the  night  of 
the  28th. 

At  dawn  on  the  29th  he  took  up  the  chase,  and  on  reach- 
ing the  summit,  just  at  sunrise,  he  discovered  his  game  at 
breakfast  half  way  down  the  eastern  side  of  the  mountain. 
Upon  being  discovered  the  enemy  sprang  to  arms.  Placing 


10 

a  white  handkerchief  upon  his  sword,  Wellman  rode  into 
their  camp  and  demanded  their  surrender.  This  prop- 
osition was  flatly  refused  by  the  fiery  Showalter.  Wellman 
told  him  that  his  orders  were  to  arrest  and  take  them  to 
Camp  Wright,  Oak  Grove,  and  that  he  preferred  to  do  so 
peaceably. 

Some  two  hours  were  consumed  in  negotiating  terms  of 
surrender.  Showalter  demanded,  in  case  of  his  surrender, 
that  his  men  be  allowed  to  carry  their  arms  into  camp. 
Wellman  was  only  too  glad  to  grant  this  request,  as  he  had 
but  eighteen  men,  whose  horses,  by  constant  traveling  over 
mountain  roads  for  three  days  and  nights,  were  well  nigh 
exhausted. 

But  Showalter  had  no  idea  of  surrendering  without  a 
fight,  but  took  advantage  of  the  delay  to  obtain  shelter  for 
his  animals  out  of  the  line  of  Wellman's  fire.  When  this 
was  accomplished,  he  sent  word  to  Wellman  that  he  had 
come  to  the  conclusion  not  to  go  to  Camp  Wright  unless 
compelled  to  by  force.  Wellman's  bugle  sounded  the 
"  Dismount  "  and  then  the  "  Deploy,"  and  finally  the  "  Ad- 
vance," when  just  at  this  critical  moment  Company  D,  under 
Lieut.  Vestal,  came  upon  the  scene  and  under  the  immediate 
eye  of  the  Major. 

Taking  in  the  situation  at  a  glance,  Company  D  unslung 
knapsacks,  and,  with  cheers,  deployed  as  skirmishers  and 
moved  forward  up  the  hill. 

Showalter,  seeing  himself  between  two  fires,  raised  the 
white  flag  and  surrendered  to  Lieut.  Wellman.  They  were 
escorted  into  Camp  Wright  by  their  captors  at  dark  on  the 
29th,  amid  the  cheers  and  rejoicings  of  the  troops  stationed 
there. 

By  virtue  of  the  camp  roster,  notwithstanding  my  pre- 
vious promotion,  I  was  Officer  of  the  Day  on  the  29th,  and 
it  devolved  upon  me  to  disarm  the  captured  party.  I 
marched  them  into  a  large  tent,  stood  them  in  line,  and, 
with  the  assistance  of  Lieut.  Hargrave,  who  was  Officer  of 
the  Guard,  took  each  individual's  name  and  the  number  and 
name  of  his  arms.  Their  horses  were  corraled,  and  they 
were  at  last  prisoners  of  Uncle  Sam,  made  so  without  the 


11 

loss  of  blood  on  either  side.  They  numbered  twenty-two, 
and  were  the  best  armed  men  I  ever  saw,  or  expect  to  see. 

Their  weapons  were  of  the  latest  pattern.  Their  fixed 
ammunition  was  carried  in  such  a  manner  as  to  facilitate 
their  loading  and  firing  with  rapidity.  They  were  utterly 
loaded  down  with  pistols  and  knives,  besides  their  repeating 
rifles.  Supposing  that  we  had  secured  all  of  their  arms,  as 
we  had  carefully  examined  their  baggage  and  persons,  we 
bade  them  good-evening;  when  one  of  the  party,  by  the 
name  of  Roberts — one  of  the  finest  specimens  of  humanity 
that  could  be  found  in  ten  thousand,  standing  fully  six  feet 
high,  broad  shouldered,  with  a  full  black  beard,  straight 
hair  that  fell  over  his  massive  neck  and  shoulders,  while  be- 
neath heavy  eyebrows  shown  a  pair  of  coal-black  eyes — 
stepped  up  to  me  and  said: 

"  Captain,  I  have  a  little  knife  which  you  have  over- 
looked in  your  search.  I  think  it  my  duty  to  inform  you  of 
it,  and  request  that  I  be  allowed  to  retain  it  to  cut  my  to- 
bacco with."  "  Oh,  certainly,  sir;  keep  it,"  I  replied. 
"  But,  Captain,"  said  Roberts,  "  you  had  better  take  a  look 
at  it,  so  that  there  may  be  no  difficulty  about  it  hereafter  if 
found  in  my  possession." 

At  the  same  time  he  commenced  to  draw  from  the  back 
of  his  neck,  or  coat  rather,  a  wicked-looking  knife  about  a 
a  foot  and  a  half  in  length,  which  so  astonished  me  that  I 
"thought  it  to  be  a  broad  sword. 

A  few  days  after  the  capture  of  these  men,  Major  Rigg 
was  ordered  to  Fort  Yuma,  and,  being  the  ranking  Captain 
at  the  post,  I  was  placed  in  command  of  the  troops  at  Camp 
Wright  by  the  following  letter : 

HEADQUARTERS  DETACHMENT  IST  INFANTRY  AND  CAVALRY, 

CALIFORNIA  VOLUNTEERS, 
CAMP  WRIGHT,  SAN  DIEGO,  December  4,  1861. 

Captain :  In  pursuance  of  instructions  dated  November  26,  from  James 
H.  Carleton,  Colonel  commanding  1st  California  Volunteers,  you  will  take 
command  of  this  camp  (post)  until  relieved  by  Major  Ferguson,  1st  Cavalry. 
Exercising  every  vigilance  in  keeping  your  command  prepared  for  emergency, 
you  will  find  all  the  orders  you  require  in  the  order  book  and  instructions  in 
the  letter  book. 

Respectfully,  EDWIN  A.  RIGG, 

Major  1st  Regt.  Infty.  Cal.  Vols.,  Com'dg. 


12 

The  first  day  of  my  official  duty  I  received  a  note  from 
Showalter  asking  permission  to  visit  my  quarters  on  busi- 
ness. I  granted  his  request,  and.  he  was  escorted  under 
guard  to  my  tent.  He  began  his  conversation  by  saying 
that  my  name  was  very  familiar  to  him.  I  replied  that  his 
name  was  also  familiar,  as  there  were  families  by  his  name 
in  my  native  county  in  Pennsylvania.  Our  conversation 
brought  out  the  fact  that  he  was  from  my  native  village,  and 
he  knew  me,  as  he  said,  as  a  "tow-headed  boy,"  while  I 
remembered  him  as  a  young  man  going  to  school  at  Madison 
College.  Years  had  intervened  since  those  days,  and,  as  a 
matter  of  course,  time  had  changed  us  both,  obliterating 
recognition  in  the  usual  way.  He  related  his  early  and 
daring  exploits  in  California,  his  political  career  as  a  legis- 
lator, and  his  trouble  with  a  fellow  member  by  the  name  of 
Piercy,  the  victim  of  his  duel.  He  wound  up  his  conversa- 
tion by  demanding  that  he  and  his  party  be  sent  to  Los 
Angeles,  there  to  be  tried  by  the  civil  authorities. 

This,  as  a  matter  of  course,  I  refused.  He  raged  and 
threatened,  cried  and  cursed,  all  at  the  same  time,  and  at 
last  brought  his  fist  down  upon  the  table  with  an  oath  that 
he  would  take  the  desperate  chance,  in  the  face  of  the  guard, 
and  go.  I  ordered  him  returned  to  his  quarters,  and  gave 
instructions  to  double  the  guard. 

In  fact,  up  to  this  time  there  was  no  proof  positive  that 
they  were  Confederates,  or  that  they  were  on  their  way  tcf 
join  the  Confederacy;  they  claimed  to  be  on  a  prospecting 
tour,  and  were  aftning  for  Arizona  and  New  Mexico  for  that 
purpose. 

On  or  about  the  10th  of  December  I  received  instruc- 
tions from  headquarters  of  the  regiment  to  allow  Showalter 
and  his  men  to  depart,  taking  with  them  their  arms  and 
horses.  The  day  was  set  for  their  release,  and  the  freedom 
of  the  camp  was  extended  to  them  in  order  that  they  could 
prepare  for  their  journey.  They  appeared  to  be  very  happy 
in  anticipation  of  their  freedom,  and  made  themselves  at 
home  among  the  soldiers,  engaging  in  foot-racing,  ball-play- 
ing, joking  and  laughing,  as  though  they  were  a  part  of 
Uncle  Sam's  army  also. 


13 

The  day  before  their  final  release  was  to  have  taken 
place,  the  cavalry  brought  in  a  captured  rtiail-bag,  and 
among  the  letters  were  several  from  Showalter  to  his  friends 
in  San  Francisco,  written  several  days  before  his  capture. 
One  of  his  letters,  written  from  Temecula,  clearly  outlined 
his  business,  disclosing  the  fact  that  he  and  most  of  his 
party  were  commissioned  officers  in  the  Confederate  army, 
and  closed  with  these  remarks :  ' '  We  understand  that  a  force 
of  United  States  troops  are  stationed  at  Camp  Wright,  about 
twenty-six  miles  east  of  here.  We  intend  to  evade  them  by 
taking  a  trail  over  the  mountains,  south  of  their  camp,  strike 
the  Colorado  river  below  Fort  Tuma,  and  when  once  on  the 
other  side,  if  they  follow  us,  we  will  give  them  h — 1. " 

I  sent  for  Showalter  and  read  to  him  the  letter,  and  then 
told  him  that  under  the  circumstances  I  should  hold  him  and 
his  men  as  prisoners  of  war  until  I  communicated  with 
Colonel  Carleton.  I  made  copies  of  his  letters  and  forwarded 
the  originals  to  Colonel  Carleton,  requesting  instruction.  In 
a  day  or  so  I  received  orders  to  hold  them  at  all  hazards  and 
await  further  instructions.  Further  instructions  were  to 
turn  over  Showalter  and  the  greater  part  of  his  men  to 
Colonel  Edw.  E.  Eyre,  1st  California  Cavalry,  who  was  on  the 
march  from  Los  Angeles  to  Fort  Yuma  via  Camp  Wright. 

In  the  meantime  Major  Ferguson  had  arrived  and  as- 
sumed command  of  Camp  Wright,  January  8,  1862.  He 
transferred  the  prisoners  to  Colonel  Eyre  in  accordance  with 
the  instructions  that  I  had  received. 

On  the  llth  of  January  the  following  Orders  No.  25  were 
read  at  dress  parade : 

HEADQUARTERS  CAMP  WRIGHT,  CALIFORNIA,  ) 
January  11,  1862.  f 

In  compliance  with  instructions  from  District  Headquarters,  Captain  H. 
A.  Gorley,  with  half  of  his  company  (D,  1st  Infantry,  California  Volunteers), 
are  hereby  detailed  to  proceed  to  Fort  Yuma.  The  A.  A.  Q.  M.  will  furnish 
such  transportation  as  will  be  absolutely  necessary,  and  no  more,  for  this 
movement,  and  have  it  ready  to-morrow  morning.  Captain  Gorley  will  draw 
subsistence  for  his  command  to  include  the  24th  inst.  He  will  receive  further 
detailed  instructions  previous  to  moving. 

D.  FERGUSON, 
Major  1st  Cal.  C.  V'.,  Com'dg. 


14 

The  letter  of  instructions  read  as  follows: 

HEADQUARTERS  CAMP  WRIGHT,  CALIFORNIA,  ) 
January  11,  1862.  f 

Captain :  You  will  start  to-morrow  morning,  with  half  of  your  company 
(D),  and  take  the  general  prisoners  of  this  command  named  in  Order  25  (here- 
with), under  guard,  and  also  the  two  civilian  prisoners,  William  Hamilton  and 
M.  Morgan,  at  this  camp,  and  deliver  them  all  safely  and  securely  to  the  com- 
manding officer  at  Fort  Yuma,  to  be  there  confined  as  directed  by  Colonel 
Carleton.  For  the  delivery  of  these  prisoners  you  will  be  held  to  a  strict  ac- 
countability, and  to  accomplish  this  duty  you  will  exercise  every  vigilance 
yourself  and  put  as  strong  a  guard  over  the  prisoners  as  your  command  will 
admit  of,  day  and  night,  charging  the  non-commissioned  officers  and  soldiers 
composing  the  guard  that  these  prisoners  must  be  delivered  at  all  hazards. 
Wishing  you  a  safe  and  pleasant  march,  I  am,  sir, 
Very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

D.  FERGUSON, 

Major  Commanding. 

In  compliance  with  the  above  order,  and  armed  with  a 
letter  of  instruction,  I  left  Camp  Wright  with  the  remnant 
of  Sho waiter's  party,  in  a  heavy  rainstorm,  January  12,  1862. 
E.  M.  Morgan,  mentioned  in  orders,  was  a  nephew  of  the 
celebrated  Confederate  General  of  that  name.  We  arrived 
at  Fort  Yuma,  after  a  march  of  eight  days  of  one  hundred 
and  eighty  miles,  safely.  Having  turned  over  my  prisoners 
to  the  Officer  of  the  Day,  I  reported  to  the  commanding 
officer,  Major  E.  A.  Rigg,  who  complimented  us  on  our  suc- 
cessful march. 

The  Showalter  prisoners  were  employed  in  assisting  the 
troops  in  building  earthworks  around  the  Fort,  in  order  to 
defend  it  against  those  whom  they  hoped  to  assist  in  captur- 
ing the  great  State  of  California.  In  the  course  of  time 
they  were  released.  Some  of  them  found  their  way  back  to 
their  homes  in  California,  wiser  if  not  better  citizens;  others 
went  South  and  joined  their  friends  in  the  Confederate  army. 
Some  went  down  in  battle,  fighting  against  the  Eepublic. 

Showalter  was  spared  for  a  worse  fate.  After  returning 
from  the  Rebel  army  he  located  at  Mazatlan,  Mexico,  and 
was  shot  dead  by  his  barkeeper  in  a  drunken  quarrel.  And 
thus  ended  the  career  of  one  whose  abilities  warranted  a 
better  fate. 


15 

The  majority  of  the  brave  spirits  that  stood  by  the  coun- 
try in  its  hour  of  trial  in  so  desolate  a  region  in  which  their 
soldier's  lot  was  cast  have  no  doubt  answered  the  last  roll- 
call  on  the  shores  of  Eternity. 


